Research Resources

Glossary of Terms Specific to Evergreen, Assessment, and Institutional Research

The following are terms often used in describing teaching and learning at Evergreen and in reporting of student demographics and institutional characteristics. These terms appear as links in the content of the Institutional Research web pages.

A

Academic StatementThe Academic Statement is a graduation requirement for all entering undergraduate students starting Fall 2013. In the statement, students summarize and reflect carefully on their liberal arts education. Students begin work on the statement when they first enroll, then develop and revise it annually under the guidance of faculty. The final version becomes an important part of each student's transcript. For more information visit the Academic Statement home page.

AccreditationA process of recognizing educational institutions for meeting standards of performance, integrity, and quality. In the United States, regional accreditation is administered by nongovernmental, voluntary institutional or professional associations. The Evergreen State College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

All-Level ProgramA program that allows freshmen to work alongside sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Faculty intentionally reserve a specific number of spaces in the program for first-year students.

AssessmentSystematic gathering of information (and acting upon that information) for purposes of improving teaching and learning in educational settings.

B

C

Collaborative LearningA variety of educational approaches involving joint intellectual effort by students or students and teachers together; usually in groups of two or more students mutually search for understanding, meaning, solutions, or in the creation of a product.

Consortium (pl. Consortia)An association between institutions based on similarities and/or common interests. See the links page for more information about Evergreen's involvement in particular consortia.

Coordinated Study ProgramA learning community model using a team-taught, multidisciplinary program of study. Students and a team of faculty drawn from different disciplines use a block of time (from 1 to 3 quarters) to examine a central theme. Within a program, learning activities can take a variety of formats including lecture, lab, workshop, seminar, field trips, etc.

Core ProgramA coordinated study program for first-year students.

CourseA part-time course offered for 2, 4, or 6 credits that supplements the main curriculum. A course can be combined with coordinated study programs, individual learning contacts, and internships.

D

Deep LearningAn approach to learning where students try to understand ideas for themselves, seek out patterns and underlying principles, examine evidence in relation to conclusions, and critically appraise the logic of arguments. This is a cognitively active learning style. (See Surface Learning)

DTF (Disappearing Task Force)A collaborative work group created to study various topics and make recommendations to the campus community. The group disbands when the group's work is done. Several DTFs are active each academic year, and students are encouraged to participate.

E

Evergreen Social ContractWritten by founding faculty members, the Social Contract contains guidelines for social ethics and working together that help Evergreen function as a community.

F

First-Time, First-Year StudentFirst college attendance since high school graduation. Includes students with college credits earned prior to high school graduation, such as Running Start, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College in the High School.

The Five FociThe five underlying principles of the Evergreen educational experience: Interdisciplinary Study, Collaborative Learning, Learning Across Significant Differences, Personal Engagement, Linking Theory with Practical Applications. Read more about the The Five Foci.

Full-Time Equivalency (FTE)Refers to either faculty or student load, and is used to calculate enrollment and budget figures. One FTE represents a full-time unit load. Per State of Washington standards, one undergraduate FTE = 15 credits per quarter and one graduate FTE = 10 credits per quarter.

Full-time StudentA full-time undergraduate student is enrolled in 12-20 credits per quarter in any combination of programs, courses, contracts, or internships. (Full-time students are not limited to those students enrolled in the full-time curriculum.)

A full-time graduate student is enrolled in 10-16 credits per quarter.

I

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)A system of surveys to gather information from all institutions and educational organizations whose primary purpose is to provide post secondary education. Data includes information about enrollments, program completions, faculty, staff, and finances. The surveys are administered by the National Center for Educational Statistics.

InternshipSupervised experience in a work situation for which a student receives academic credit. Internships require advanced planning through Academic Advising and a faculty sponsor.

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K

L

Learning CommunityA purposeful structuring of curriculum to link together coursework so that students find greater coherence in what they are learning and greater interaction with faculty and peers.

M

N

Narrative EvaluationEvergreen's grading system consists of a narrative evaluation of a student's academic work at the end of each quarter. Faculty members write evaluations of each student's work and progress (see Faculty Evaluation of Student Achievement), and each student writes a self-evaluation (see Student Self-Evaluation). These become official documents, making up the permanent transcript. Students also write evaluations of faculty members, which become part of the faculty member's official portfolio (see Student Evaluation of Faculty).

Non-Resident AlienA person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and who is in this country on a visa or temporary basis and does not have the right to remain indefinitely.

O

P

Part-time StudentA part-time undergraduate student is enrolled in less than 12 credits per quarter, in any combination of programs, courses, contracts, or internships. Part-time students are not limited to those students enrolled in Evening/Weekend Studies offerings.

A part-time graduate student is enrolled in less than 10 credits per quarter.

PersistenceRefers to a student's continued enrollment in college beyond any particular term.

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R

Regular StudentA student admitted to the college and assumed to be pursuing a degree; also referred to as a matriculated or degree-seeking student.

RetentionRefers to a student's persistence at Evergreen from one term to another. Often calculated as a fall quarter to fall quarter measurement, i.e. of students enrolled in a particular fall quarter how many are still enrolled the subsequent fall.

Returning GreenerA new re-admitted Evergreen student who previously attended The Evergreen State College.

S

SeminarA central experience of an Evergreen education. In a seminar, a faculty member and up to 25 students meet to discuss and analyze assigned readings and other program work.

Special StudentA student who has not been formally admitted to the college and is enrolled in a maximum of 8 credits per quarter; also referred to as a non-matriculated or non-degree seeking student.

SPSSIBM SPSS or Statistical Package for Social Sciences is a software program used for statistical analysis.

Student Self-EvaluationStudents' evaluations of their academic work as measured against their objectives for the quarter and the requirements of their program, course, contract, or internship. Self-evaluations are part of students' formal academic records.

Student Summative Self-Evaluation (see Academic Statement)

Surface LearningAn approach to learning where the student intends merely to cope with course requirements in a minimalist fashion. This is a cognitively passive learning style. (See Deep Learning)

T

Tribal Reservation-Based/Community-Determined ProgramCoordinated studies program primarily designed for upper-division students. The Tribal Program emphasizes community building within Native American communities. There are several sites at different reservations in Washington State.

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W

Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) (formerly Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB)A state agency governed by a 9-member citizen council that provides strategic planning, oversight, and advocacy to support increased student success and higher overall levels of educational attainment in Washington State. The Council was established on July 1, 2012 to replace the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). The following link leads outside this site to the WSAC website.